Superintendent Paula Hilman said: “We are grateful for the continuing patience and support of local people as we deal with this alert.”

It comes as a series of security alerts were sparked across Northern Ireland.

Road closures:

Crumlin Road, between Ballysillan Road and Cambrai Street.

Woodvale Road, between the Ardoyne Roundabout and the Ballygomartin Road

Twaddell Avenue between Ardoyne Roundabout and Ballygomartin Road have been closed for commuter traffic.

To minimise disruption to local residents, police will endeavour to facilitate access to homes within the cordoned area.

Police dealing with the security alert in the Brompton Park/Crumlin Road area advise the public that if they find anything suspicious they are not to touch or approach it - but to contact police immediately.

Superintendent Paula Hilman said, “ I apologise for the disruption this operation will cause to people in the area but we must take every precaution to keep people safe following the report of a suspicious object having been left in the area.”

“We would also like to thank the local residents and public and their patience and assistance."

Meanwhile visits to Magilligan prison were cancelled due to an ongoing security alert.

The security alert on the Point Road in Magiligan has now ended. Army bomb experts examined a suspicious object and have declared it to be nothing untoward

Police were investigating reports of a suspect package left near the medium security prison in Limavady.

Inspector Ian Armour said: "The report was made by prison authorities at Magilligan earlier.

Earlier this morning a viable pipe bomb was found following an alert in east Belfast.

It was reported that shortly after 3.40am an object had been thrown into the garden of a house in the Island Street area.